Readers of TravelSmart Woman may be surprised at this post. You already. know that I’m totally about going solo. Even more so about Solo after Sixty. Yet–as with all things–there are a few downsides of solo travel. (Want to...
Meteora, Greece: 5 Things to Do After You’ve Seen the Monasteries

Meteora, Greece: Of course, you go to see the magnificent monasteries built on the tops of stone pillars. A sight you’ll never forget. And after–or in between–those tours? There’s still plenty to do in this area that the Eastern...
Meteora: Monasteries in the Mystical “Stone Forest” of Greece

Meteora, Greece: As soon as I learned about it, I had to go. Monasteries built on the tops of stone peaks? The tallest at 2,011 feet (613 meters)? Over 700 years ago? After spending three weeks in Athens and...
Solo Road Trip to Manistique, MI: A Beautiful Bargain

I confess: I was itching to get out again after nearly five months of sheltering-in-place. A solo road trip seemed like a good idea for several reasons: First, solo travel is my jam. Second, one’s own car is the...
Your Road Trip for One: Ready, Set, Drive! (Part 2)

“Road trip!” Magical words, aren’t they? And your road trip for one means you can go, stop, see, and stay as you please. In Part 1, you did the planning and prep work. Now it’s time to pack the...
Road Trip for One? Absolutely! (Part 1: Planning)

Buckle up, Buttercup! A road trip for one might be travel freedom at its finest. YOU set the itinerary, YOU drive when you want, YOU stay at each destination as long as YOU like. Sounds lovely? It is! Jamie...
My First Post-Pandemic Getaway: Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby, IL

I couldn’t wait for my first post-pandemic getaway. Like most homebound travelers, I’d done my part to flatten the Covid Curve just by staying put. I even made the best of it, embracing my inner Janus, the Roman god...
Casey, Illinois: Tiny Town, BIG Things!

You probably wouldn’t give Casey, Illinois a second thought. It’s a very small town (population 2,635) not conveniently located in the East-Central part of the state. In fact, it’s a hundred miles closer to Indianapolis than Chicago. But Casey...
Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM: The “Multiverse” Awaits!

Trying to describe a visit to Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, NM, is like trying to describe “red” to a blind person: Impossible. Even the website can’t quite nail it. “Meow Wolf creates immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences...
5 Reasons to Go to Cuba…Make 2020 Your Year!

“Don’t even try to understand Cuba,” advised our group leader, Liliana Rhoades, who was born in Cuba. “Changes are a response to what is happening. Right now.” Cuba is clearly always on the verge of something else that needs...